John Evans called upon Congress to pass Armenian Genocide Resolution

25.04.2007
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) reaffirmed his "hold" on the controversial nomination of Richard Hoagland to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Armenia in his remarks today at an Armenian Genocide observance organized by the Congressional Armenian Caucus in Capitol Hill’s historic Cannon Caucus Room, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)

The Bush Administration has twice nominated Richard Hoagland to replace John Marshall Evans, a decorated career diplomat who was fired last year by the Secretary of State for speaking truthfully about the Armenian Genocide. From the outset, the Hoagland nomination has been the focus of intense controversy, first because of the State Department’s willingness to explain its firing of Evans, and later due to his denial of the Armenian Genocide in his responses to questions raised during his confirmation hearing. These remarks, which extended far beyond the euphemistic word games traditionally employed by the State Department, sparked outrage among Armenian Americans and widespread Congressional opposition to his posting in Yerevan.

Looking to Ambassador Evans, who was seated in the first row of the standing room only hall, Senator Menendez said, "I wish the Ambassador was back in Armenia, but if we cannot get him there, I refuse to release my hold on Ambassador Hoagland because of his testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee." The Senator added, to a sustained ovation, that, "the President [should] appoint a new nominee who will represent the interests of the United States and Armenia much better."

In his remarks, Ambassador John Evans, the program’s keynote speaker, called upon Congress to pass the Armenian Genocide Resolution. In a speech repeatedly interrupted by applause, he said, "If we dare not call the 1915 events genocide, we make it more likely that current genocides, such as that in Darfur, will continue and future genocides will occur... This is why, ladies and gentlemen, after 92 years, the time has come to call a spade a spade. House Resolution 106 on the affirmation of the United States record on the Armenian Genocide should be adopted by the Congress." The former envoy continued, stressing: "History does matter. Truth does matter. Justice does matter."

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